“Hey bro!! Where’ve you been?”, I said, surprised as hell at seeing my brother again after so long. Why had it been so long? This question plagued me from the moment I laid eyes on him, but for some reason, my memory faltered. It had been a very long time since I saw him last, this much I did remember. The happiness I received from the sight and feel of him told me as much. Where had he been for so long. I’ve missed him so much. God it was good to see him again!!!
“Let me have one of those, will ya?”, I asked, pointing to the pack of cigarettes he had just removed from his front shirt pocket.
“Here.”, he said, tossing them to me from where he stood. While smiling at me, he asked if I needed a light also.
“No thanks. I think I can handle that one myself.” I giggled just a bit as I said it, remembering the numerous other times we had gone through the same routine. It was never a problem carrying a lite of some kind with me, but I could never keep any cigarettes.
I threw him his pack back and lit the cigarette before speaking again. Through a small cloud of smoke, I began re-familiarizing myself with the brother I hadn’t seen in so long.
“You know, the last time I saw you was right before I left for Delaware.” As my words advanced, I wondered again why it had been so long. I left in 1983. It was now 1993 and ten years have come and gone.
He was wearing a multi-colored plaid western shirt, one which I had seen him wear quite frequently when I was still living here. Where is here? It seems a familiar place and still, I don’t no it.
“What have you been doing since then?”, I asked to get the ball rolling. He seemed very hesitant to talk for some reason, so I hoped my question would break the ice.
“Not much really. I’m still building trailers just like I was doing ten years ago.” The whole time he talked, his face bared to me a enigmatic grin. A grin that told me that something just wasn’t right with the situation, and yet I chose to ignore it. I chose to ignore because there could be nothing wrong. After all, was I not with one of the people I loved most in the world? Yes I was and for that I was thankful.
“I wrecked my car last week. I don’t remember whether or not I told you about that.” I nodded my head to acknowledge that, indeed, he had told me already.
“Well, did I tell you that the jerk that hit me is also suing me for damages to his car?”, he inquired, knowing in advance that he hadn’t because he had just found out himself earlier that day. I told him he had not as I sat there patiently listening and smoking my cigarette. Before long, I found that my earlier intent to get him to talk was now working.
He was doing all the talking and I did the listening. He soon began reminiscing about our growing up together and had both of us rolling with laughter at some of the things we, as kids, had done. After an hour or so and a few cigarettes later, I remembered that I had something to show him. I got up out of my seat and went into the bedroom, telling him that I would be right back. Man it was great to be back with him again.
As I strolled down the hall where I was sure the bedroom would be, I was the happiest man alive. I still didn’t quite know why, but it was only a matter of time before I was to find out. It was the strangest feeling to not know where you were and still know where to find the things you are looking for. I found it in the box in the closet just like I knew I would. The one and a half by four inch piece of paper was perfectly flat and was very well preserved.
Without looking at it, I put the box back and quickly went back to my seat in the other room where my brother had been waiting. However, when I entered the room, he was not to be found. He must have gotten up to get himself a drink, I thought to myself. I went immediately to the kitchen hoping to find him there, but to my deepest disappointment, that room was as empty as the last.
With my head hung low, I left the kitchen and walked back to my seat in the other room. Half way there, I remembered the piece of paper I now held in my right hand. I turned it so I could read what it said and as I did so, was quickly overcome by a wave of sadness. Tears soon began to appear, but I hastily pushed them back and smiled. After reading the item in my hand I carefully laid it on the table beside the seat I again settled in, although this time I was by myself. I put my chin in my hands and stared past the furniture in the room, to the wall on the other side.
I now understood why I felt like I did and laughed out loud. The tears were back, joined by others I did not try to ward off. These tears were of joy, not of the sadness I felt a few seconds ago.
The joy that I had gotten to spend a little more time with the one I missed so dearly. I rose out of my seat and reached over to pick up the piece of paper so that I might put it back where I had recently taken it from. Once again I found myself reading from it, but this time, understanding everything.
MORIAN
Blaine Morian, age 23, died Oct. 22, 1983
He is survived by…
I was awaken by the alarm clock telling me it was time to start the day. I knew straight away that it would be one of the better days I would have this month. As I made my way to the shower, I felt the smile begin to appear upon my face.
It was so nice to see you again, Blaine.
